《蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)》蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第35章

ations　seriously。〃　
〃You　do　not　understand。〃　Mirelle　bent　forward；　her　dark　eyes　flashing。　〃It　is　not　the　idle　talk　of　those　in　the　streets。　It　is　the　police。〃　
〃The　police　…　ah？〃　
The　te　sat　up；　alert　once　more。　
Mirelle　nodded　her　head　vigorously　several　times。　
〃Yes；　yes。　You　prehend　me　…　I　have　friends　everywhere。　The　Prefect　himself　…〃　
She　left　the　sentence　unfinished；　with　an　eloquent　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　
〃Who　is　not　indiscreet　where　a　beautiful　woman　is　concerned？〃　murmured　the　Count　politely。　
〃The　police　believe　that　you　killed　Mrs　Kettering。　But　they　are　wrong。〃　
〃Certainly　they　are　wrong；〃　agreed　the　te　easily。　
〃You　say　that；　but　you　do　not　know　the　truth。　I　do。〃　
The　te　looked　at　her　curiously。　
〃You　know　who　killed　Madame　Kettering？　Is　that　what　you　would　say；　Mademoiselle？〃　
Mirelle　nodded　vehemently。　
〃Yes。〃　
〃Who　was　it？〃　asked　the　te　sharply。　
〃Her　husband。〃　She　bent　nearer　to　the　te；　speaking　in　a　low　voice　that　vibrated　with　anger　and　excitement。　〃It　was　her　husband　who　killed　her。〃　
The　te　leant　back　in　his　chair。　His　face　was　a　mask。　
〃Let　me　ask　you；　Mademoiselle　…　how　do　you　know　this？〃　
〃How　do　I　know　it？〃　Mirelle　sprang　to　her　feet；　with　a　laugh。　〃He　boasted　of　it　beforehand。　He　was　ruined；　bankrupt；　dishonoured。　Only　the　death　of　his　wife　could　save　him。　He　told　me　so。　He　travelled　on　the　same　train　…　but　she　was　not　to　know　it。　Why　was　that；　I　ask　you？　So　that　he　might　creep　upon　her　in　the　night　…　Ah！　…〃　she　shut　her　eyes　…　〃I　can　see　it　happening。。。〃　
The　Count　coughed。　
〃Perhaps　…　perhaps；〃　he　murmured。　〃But　surely；　Mademoiselle；　in　that　case　he　would　not　steal　the　jewels？〃　
〃The　jewels！〃　breathed　Mirelle。　〃The　jewels。　Ah！　Those　rubies。。。〃　
Her　eyes　grew　misty；　a　far…away　light　in　them。　The　te　looked　at　her　curiously；　wondering　for　the　hundredth　time　at　the　magical　influence　of　precious　stones　on　the　female　sex。　He　recalled　her　to　practical　matters。　
〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　Mademoiselle？〃　
Mirelle　became　alert　and　businesslike　once　more。　
〃Surely　it　is　simple。　You　will　go　to　the　police。　You　will　say　to　them　that　M。　Kettering　mitted　this　crime。〃　
〃And　if　they　do　not　believe　me？　If　they　ask　for　proof？〃　He　was　eyeing　her　closely。　
Mirelle　laughed　softly；　and　drew　her　orange…and…black　wrap　closer　round　her。　
〃Send　them　to　me；　Monsieur　le　te；〃　she　said　softly；　〃I　will　give　them　the　proof　they　want。〃　
Upon　that　she　was　gone；　an　impetuous　whirlwind；　her　errand　acplished。　
The　te　looked　after　her；　his　eyebrows　delicately　raised。　
〃She　is　in　a　fury；〃　he　murmured。　〃What　has　happened　now　to　upset　her？　But　she　shows　her　hand　too　plainly。　Does　she　really　believe　that　Mr　Kettering　killed　his　wife？　She　would　like　me　to　believe　it。　She　would　even　like　the　police　to　believe　it。〃　
He　smiled　to　himself。　He　had　no　intention　whatsoever　of　going　to　the　police。　He　saw　various　other　possibilities；　to　judge　by　his　smile；　an　agreeable　vista　of　them。　
Presently；　however；　his　brow　clouded。　According　to　Mirelle；　he　was　suspected　by　the　police。　That　might　be　true　or　it　might　not。　
An　angry　woman　of　the　type　of　the　dancer　was　not　likely　to　bother　about　the　strict　veracity　of　her　statements。　On　the　other　hand；　she　might　easily　have　obtained　inside　information。　
In　that　case　…　his　mouth　set　grimly　…　in　that　case　he　must　take　certain　precautions。　
He　went　into　the　house　and　questioned　Hippolyte　closely　once　more　as　to　whether　any　strangers　had　been　to　the　house。　The　valet　was　positive　in　his　assurances　that　this　was　not　the　case。　The　te　went　up　to　his　bedroom　and　crossed　over　to　an　old　bureau　that　stood　against　the　wall。　He　let　down　the　lid　of　this；　and　his　delicate　fingers　sought　a　spring　at　the　back　of　one　of　the　pigeonholes。　
A　secret　drawer　flew　out；　in　it　was　a　small　brown　paper　package。　The　te　took　this　out　and　weighed　it　in　his　hand　carefully　for　a　minute　or　two。　Raising　his　hand　to　his　head；　with　a　slight　grimace　he　pulled　out　a　single　hair。　This　he　placed　on　the　lip　of　the　drawer　and　shut　it　carefully。　Still　carrying　the　small　parcel　in　his　hand；　he　went　downstairs　and　out　of　the　house　to　the　garage；　where　stood　a　scarlet　two…seater　car。　Ten　minutes　later　he　had　taken　the　road　for　Monte　Carlo。　
He　spent　a　few　hours　at　the　Casino；　then　sauntered　out　into　the　town。　Presently　he　reentered　the　car　and　drove　off　in　the　direction　of　Mentone。　Earlier　in　the　afternoon　he　had　noticed　an　inconspicuous　grey　car　some　little　distance　behind　him。　He　noticed　it　again　now。　He　smiled　to　himself。　The　road　was　climbing　steadily　upwards。　The　te"s　foot　pressed　hard　on　the　accelerator。　The　little　red　car　had　been　specially　built　to　the　te"s　design；　and　had　a　far　more　powerful　engine　than　would　have　been　suspected　from　its　appearance。　It　shot　ahead。　
Presently　he　looked　back　and　smiled；　the　grey　car　was　following　behind。　Smothered　in　dust；　the　little　red　car　leaped　along　the　road。　It　was　travelling　now　at　a　dangerous　pace；　but　the　te　was　a　first…class　driver。　
Now　they　were　going　downhill；　twisting　and　curving　unceasingly。　Presently　the　car　slackened　speed；　and　finally　came　to　a　standstill　before　a　Bureau　de　Poste。　The　te　jumped　out；　lifted　the　lid　of　the　tool　chest；　extracted　the　small　brown　paper　parcel　and　hurried　into　the　post　office。　Two　minutes　later　he　was　driving　once　more　in　the　direction　of　Mentone。　When　the　grey　car　arrived　there；　the　te　was　drinking　English　five　o"clock　tea　on　the　terrace　of　one　of　the　hotels。　
Later；　he　drove　back　to　Monte　Carlo；　dined　there；　and　reached　home　once　more　at　eleven　o"clock。　Hippolyte　came　out　to　meet　him　with　a　disturbed　face。　
〃Ah！　Monsieur　le　te　has　arrived。　Monsieur　le　te　did　not　telephone　me；　by　any　chance？〃　
The　te　shook　his　head。　
〃And　yet　at　three　o"clock　I　received　a　summons　from　Monsieur　le　te；　to　present　myself　to　him　at　Nice；　at　the　Negresco。〃　
〃Really；〃　said　the　te；　〃and　you　went？〃　
〃Certainly；　Monsieur；　but　at　the　Negresco　they　knew　nothing　of　Monsieur　le　te　…　he　had　not　been　there。〃　
〃Ah〃　said　the　te；　〃doubtless　at　that　hour　Marie　was　out　doing　her　afternoon　marketing？〃　
〃That　is　so；　Monsieur　le　te。〃　
〃Ah；　well；〃　said　the　te；　〃it